Today we’d like to introduce you to Sonya Palumbo.
Hi Sonya, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
In 7th grade, I was put into an art class and absolutely hated it. I felt like everything I made was terrible and swore to myself that I would never do art again. Funny enough, in 8th grade I was put into art again as all the other electives were full and they needed to fill up the class. Unexpectedly, my attitude towards making art changed completely with the help of my art teacher. She taught me all the basics and was really encouraging. She convinced me to submit my first watercolor painting I’ve ever done in my life into a contest and I actually won an award for it (I still have it)!
Little did I know, this set me off on a journey. Art became a normal everyday practice. I took an Interior Design drawing class in college and this inspired me to sketch more. During breaks between classes, I would sketch buildings or rooms on campus in my journal. I found that it helped me ground myself. I wanted to find more places to sketch. I bought a small watercolor travel set and each weekend, I would go explore a new place to sketch. Eventually, I decided to travel to find even more places to add to my sketchbook,
I was given a set of acrylic paints for my birthday one year. From the few times I had to use acrylic paints in art class, I really didn’t enjoy working with it. For some reason, I thought it was time that I give it another shot. Every night, I’d spend a couple of hours painting before going to bed. It soon became my favorite nighttime routine.
Although I have been painting for over a decade now, I only recently started calling myself an artist about two years ago. It was then that I was able to create meaning through my paintings. At first, I found that I could express certain emotions through my work. Whatever I was feeling while I was painting, I could recall that feeling whenever I looked at it. Eventually, I became more expressive and created bigger paintings that allowed me to tell stories. I am fascinated by nature and animals and how we all communicate. I never run out of inspiration as life has so much to teach me. I am so grateful to be able to share all the hard lessons and little miracles I’ve experienced through my work.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I think my biggest obstacle was myself. I told myself anything I created wasn’t worth sharing because nobody would like it. Maybe when I become a better artist, I thought. Really, I was afraid of being rejected. I didn’t believe anyone would actually want to buy my art.
I don’t know what it is about getting older, but I care much less now. I’m more comfortable in my own skin. I’ve accepted that not everyone will resonate with my artwork. When I share my artwork with the public I’m saying, “This is me. Like it or don’t.” Letting go is so liberating. I wish I had done it a long time ago. When you let go, you open the pathway for your people to find you. The moment I embodied my authentic creative expression, people began buying my art.
Another thing that I struggled with was the pressure of finding my style. I felt like I couldn’t call myself an Artist unless I had a specific style. Something I could be “known for.” The thing is, for those who know me know that I’m all over the place. To limit myself to one thing feels unnatural. Oddly enough, when I actually stopped forcing myself to create a style, I ended up creating one. I found that allowing myself to try other art forms and mediums helps with my creative flow that can be brought back to my main style of art.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in acrylic painting. I love painting animals and nature. In every painting, I like to add silver or gold geometric shapes to contrast the organic shapes of nature. My bigger more detailed paintings tell stories or lessons that really spoke to me in the moment. I have blog posts on my website that go into detail about all the symbolism in each piece.
I also started working with preserved moss after spending some time at a flower shop. I like working with it medium a lot. I’m creating art with nature. It gets me out of my head and working with my hands. My moss art designs are more simplistic in contrast to my paintings. I’m hoping to create more with this medium. As I’m talking about this, I’m having ideas for a series come to me.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I see more opportunities for artists to collaborate and make a living off of their work thanks to social media. I hope that more and more people over the years normalize that anyone can be successful as an artist instead of being only available for those who “got lucky.” You don’t have to starve to pursue your passion. There is room for all of us to be successful.
Contact Info:
- Email: sonyatpalumbo@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.sonyapalumbo.art
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sonyapalumbo.art/
